Sheet metal punch machine



Feb. 2, 1932. e. T. BALFE SHEET METAL PUNCH MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. Georg e 7. [Sage A TTNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE T. BALFE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT GASKET & MFG.

00., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 1A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN SHEET METAL rumor! MACHINE Application filed September 4, 1930. vSerial No. 479,734

. process of perforating sheet material such as metal, and more particularly to the forming of a large number of closely adjacent apertures in such a sheet, and in such manner as not to remove any of the metal from the sheet and to give form and shape to the meta about the perforation.

An object of my invention is the manufacture of closely perforated sheet metal plates rapidly and economically. The invention comprises a new type of machine for producing metal sheets thus characterized and a new process of=- their manufacture.

It is shown as embodied in mechanism for producing a reticulated metal sheet having a particular type of perforation and wherein the sheet is punched from opposite sides to produce apertures including oppositely directed minute tangs closely spaced from one another throughout the entire surface area of the sheet on both sides thereof and arranged after a specific fashion.

There are numerous uses to which sheet metal so perforated may be placed. One use is as a base for gasket structure such as I have described and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 420,331, filed J anuary 13, 1930, No. 1,776,140, issued September 16, 1930, which shows open ended protuberances having tangs projecting from the bottom thereof. Great diiiiculty has been experienced in perforating sheet metal as above described'wherein tangs extend in opposite directions alternately throughout the width and length of the sheet.

It is desirable that the tangs project from opposite faces-in a uniform style and arrangement and that they be formed Withoutotherwise fracturing the metal and that the sheet time may be formed in-succeeding rows, all perforatlons in a row being simultaneously formed, and the adjacent perforations of each plates, the edges of which form a planar row being formed from opposite sides of the sheet so as to produce spaced tangs along each row which alternately project from opposite sides of the sheet.

To carry out such process I provide a mat5 chine having cooperating punch unit members so relatively arranged and operable as to act upon a sheet metal plate simultaneously from opposite sides to produce the aforenamed results.

My improved machine includes a plurality of individual punch unit members provided with male punches so disposed in the relative arrangement of the several units as to carry out the desired process. The several punch unit members are arrangedto act upon a sheet of metal to form successive rows of perforations therein.

Preferably the punch unit members are in the form of individual sheet steel discs having peripheral punch teeth and secured in a row in closely spaced arrangement upon a rotatable arbor. A similar cooperating opposed arbor carrying similarly arranged discs .is here illustrated with the discs of the two arbors enmeshed. Each disc, in its punch teeth, embodies a male die and a portion of v a female die.

Arranged between each adjacent pair of discs is an individual sheet metal stationary stripper plate which serves to strip the metal sheet from the male dies of the rotating disc. These stripper plates are individually removable as are the discs and they are also arranged in pairs, spaced apart in the same plane, a pair between each pair of spaced discs on an arbor. Due to the enmeshed cooperation of the discs each pair of stripper ,plates is disposed between a pair of spaced discs on each arbor.

The stripper plates establish a planar guide for the metal sheet being acted upon by the discs. They strip the plate after perforation from the discs. Each line or row of stripper guide act as an anvil for the opposed discs and cooperate with the female'die portions of the adjacent rotatable discsto form the female dies.

Other meritorious features of my improved method and machine will be obvious from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my perforating machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section along line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section along the line 44 of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail elevations of individual units in my assembly and Fig. .8 is an elevation, partly broken away for the sake of clearness, of arow of assembled punchand stripping discs illustrating the staggered relationship.

My punch machine comprises a base or frame 10 having upright standards 12 and 14. These standards provide bearings for two opposed rotatable arbors 16 and 18. Each of these arbors is provided with gear wheels 20 and 22 which are of identical diameter and possess the same number of gear teeth. Arbor 18 is driven through gear 22 from a suitable power source, by means of chain 24, and the two arbors 16. and 18 therefore rotate at the same rate of speed. 1

Secured transversely across the front and rear of the uprights 12and 14, as by means of screws 26, are spaced keyway members 28 and 30. Similarly disposed keyway members 32 and 34 are secured to the opposite side of the upright standards in a like manner. A. guide and feed plate 36 is secured by means of the bracket 38 to the keyway28 and assists in feeding the metal strips between the shafts 16 and 18.

Keyed to the keyways 28, 30, 32 and 34 and freely surrounding each of the shafts 16 and 18 to permit free rotation of the shafts therethrough, at closely spaced apart mtervals along each of the said shafts, are my stripping discs 40. The apertures 42 of these discs are somewhat elongated for purposes to be hereafter brought out. Spacing discs or bearing washers 44 are keyed to the shafts 16 and 18 within the apertures 42 of stripping discs 40. These two discs occupy the same plane, but the spacing disc 44 is of infinitesimally greater thickness than the stripping disc 40. It may, however, assume various thicknesses as occasion may require.

The'punching discs 46, about the circumference of which the punch teeth 48 are arranged are keyed to the shafts 16 and 18 and held in spaced relationship'thereon by the spacing discs 44. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 the teeth 48 of the two discs 46 on each side of each spacing disc 44 are disposed in staggered relationship to each other The punch discs of course revolve as a unit with the arbor upon which they are mounted.

As already stated the apertures 42 in the stripping discs 40 are/slightly alongated as shown at 41 in order that their peripheral edge will be subjected to minimum pressure plate 36 it is caught bywthe teeth of the rotating punch discs. A bevel 50 is provided at the front of the straight edge portion of each of the stripping discs 40 to facilitate the ingress of themetal sheet. Inasmuch as the teeth 48 mesh and are being rotated in opposite directions it will be seen that the sheet posite directions pair of punch discs 46 as it progresses. It will also be seen that, inasmuch as the teeth 48 of the punch discs 46' which are located of metal will be unched alternately in op- A y each upper and lower,

on opposite sides of the stripping disc 40 are staggered, the apertures punched in the sheet' bf metal and extending in a row will be staggered transversely across its width. The rows are punched and formed in successlon.

The metal which is displaced to form the aperture is not removed from the sheet and since the punch teeth 48 are rotating at the moment they commence their punching operation on the sheet of metal, the punch produces a small tang in the metal on the side opposite that from which it is punched. It is this tang, in contradistinction to a clean cut aperture, which renders the resultant sheet of metal particularly adaptable as a basev unit for the gasket described in my aforesaid application. The projecting tangs and the sides of the apertures are 'ven a curved shape as shown in the copendlng application herein referred to and it is'believed that this results from the rolling action of the teeth over the sheet, and that the sheet is first deformed and the metal partially shaped for the resulting aperture and tang before the metal is actually pierced and that following the piercing the tang is further bent and shaped.

Each row of stripping discs not only functions to strip the metal sheet from the rotatable discs but it also functions as an anvil second bracket 54 which is secured to the keyway 34: on the egress side of the punch machine, and,the end of the straight edge portion of each of the stripping discs is cut away as at 56 for the purpose of freeing up the sheet of metal as it issued from the rotating punch discs. 1

While the above generally described method of punching sheet metalin this particular way and the mechanical elements utilized for that purpose are both novel, various other means for carrying out my method, as well as various modifications of the assembled structuralunits will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for thatvreason I in tend to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims. a

In the drawings, particularly in Fig. 2, I have illustrated theslight elongation of the apertures 42 in the stripping discs 40, and have indicated this at41.

The arbors are adjustable toward or from each other to provide for movement of one or both arbors. Preferably the upper arbor is made adjustable by means of spacer blocks mounted in the frame and supporting the bearing blocks. Suitable means are provided for firmly securing the arbor in any one of its adjusted positions, as for example spacer blocks may be disposed. in the frame above the bearing blocks, and by means of adjustable screws or bolts suitably tightened to hold the bearing blocks'between the spacer guides arranged on the frame.

Instead of employing stripper plates of the form shown, these may be made arcuate or semi-circular. With such a construction,

the upper and lower keyways will be made vertically adjustable on the frame so as to dispose the opposed meeting edges of the stripper plates in the proper vertical spaced apart relation. By using arcuate or semicircular plates, any possibility of wear, due to friction between the plate and the piercing disc, is eliminated.

It will thus be seen thatjthe arbors and stripper plates may be adjusted to vary the depth of the depression and the length of the tang as required t It will be understood that, while the machine is operated at relatively high speeds, the treatment of the metal is gradual so far as the bending, piercing and forming operations are concerned. This will be readily understood from Fig. 2, where there is a gradual bending to the center; piercing and a gradual forming at the center to bend the tang and form it.

\Vhat I claim is: I

1. The combination in a sheet metal perforating machine of opposed rotatable rows of axially spaced apart punch discs, opposed stationary rows of stripper discs interleaved between said rotatable discs to support a metal sheet for perforation by the rotatable discs, each row of stationary stripper discs cooperating with the row of adjacent rotatable discs to form therewith female dies which cooperate with the male dies of the sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, and means iding and substantially confining the b l il nks at the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of the die members.

3. A machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, means guiding and substantially. confining the blanks at the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of the die members, and being fixed with respect thereto.

4. machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blankswith integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at the point of engagement ofthe die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of the diemembers, and disposed between said die members.

5. A machine of the class described for forming. sheet metal blanks with integral project ons extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapt ed to engage the material on opposite sides to form projections extendingv laterally from each side of the blank, means-guiding and substantially confining the blanks at the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the (lie members to form portions of the die members, and having substantially straight edge portions disposed between the, die members atthe point of engagement with the blank.

6. A machine of the class described for forming sheet nietal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions ofthe die members, and comprising plate-like members inter-leaved between the die members of each row with opposed members of each row substantially in alignment. I

7.- A machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to .form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of the die members, and comprising plates inter-leaved between the die members of each row for supporting a blank for linear movement along closely spaced lines provided by the opposed edges of said plates.

8. A machine of theclass; described for' forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, fixed means guiding and substantially confinthe blanks at the pointer engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of the die members, said die members comprising male and female dles wherein the female die lncludes in part a rotatable disc and in tionary guiding means.

9. A machine of the class described partsaid stafor ' forming sheetmetal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof, comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engag the material on opposite sides to form projections extending laterally from each side of the blank,,means guiding andv substantially confining theblank at the point of engagement of the die members with the blank, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions of-the die .mem-" bers, and comprising substantially platelike members adjustably mounted w'th respect to each other.

1O. A machine of the class deserib d for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks and away from those of-an forming sheet metal blanks with integral projectlons extending away .from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof.

12. A sheet metal forming machine for formin sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising ope positely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses uponopposite faces thereof,

said die members being substantially toothshaped.

13. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodyingtherein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposedfrows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, the die members of each row being staggered with respect to the corresponding die members of an adjacent row. I I

14. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially, complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, the die members of each row being movable toward opposed row. i

15. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely forming a substantially continuous planar bers of opposed rows being substantially combo ying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members,'said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, and plate-like members interleaved between said die members and formingan anvil-for the opposed die members.

16. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, and fixed plate-like members inter-leaved between said die members having opposed edge portions guide. 17. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven membersv each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alters nate male and female die members, said memplementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected .to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, and substantially plate-like members inter-leaved be tween the die members, said plate-like members being fixed with respect to the die members and constituting the sides of the female die members.

18. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheetj'metal blanks with integral orojections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprisingoppositely i disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, and spacer members carried by said power driven members for spacing the die members" there- 19. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven memberseach' embodying therein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die member 1 said members of opposed rows being substafi i ally complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon. opposite faces thereof, spacer members carried by said power driven members for spacing the die members thereon, and substantially plate-like members of less thickness than said spacer members interleaved between the said die members.

20. A sheet -metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alter nate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, spacer members carried by said power driven members for spacing the die members there- 'on, and substantially plate-like members of less thickness than said spacer members disposed externally about said spacer members, saidplate-like members constituting a guiding and confining means for a blank at the .point of engagement of the die members therewith.

21. A sheet ,metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from-the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a plurality of rows of alterbers of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, and

means guiding and substantially confining die members being'adjustable with respect to each other.

,22. A machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blanks having integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides of the sheet by a piercing and bending operation to produce tangs projecting from adjacent openings in each row upon opposite sides of the sheet, and means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at and about the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said means cooperating with the die members to form portions thereof.

23. A machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising rows of opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides nate male and female die members, said mem- 1y complementary whereby a sheet being act-.

to form protuberances having openings and produce tangs projecting from ad acent openings in each row upon Opposite s des of the sheet, and means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at and about the point of engagement of the die members with the blanks, said lneans cooperating with the die members to form portions thereof;

24. A sheet metal forming machine for formin sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed power driven members each embodying therein a. plurality of rows of al ternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantialed upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, said die members engaging the blank by a piercing and bending operation to produce. tangs projecting from adjacent openings in each row upon opposite sides of the sheet.

25. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on opposite sides thereof comprising oppositely disposed ower driven members each embodying t erein a plurality of rows of alternate male and. female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to similar stresses upon opposite faces thereof, said die members engaging the blank to produce protuberances having openings and tangs projecting from adjacent openings in g each row upon opposite sides of the sheet.

26. A machine of the class described for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blanks on crating with the die members to form portions of the die members.

28. A sheet metal forming machine for forming sheet metal blanks with integral projections extending away from the blank on opposite sides thereof compris ng oppositely disposed power driven members each embodyingtherein a plurality of rows of alternate male and female die members, said members of opposed rows being substantially complementary and engaging the blank onopposite sides to deform and perforate the material and form open ended projections extending laterally from each side of the.

blank, and whereby a sheet being acted upon will be simultaneously subjected to sim lar stresses upon opposite faces thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE T. BALFE.

opposed inter-engaging die members adapted to engage the material on opposite sides to deform and perforate the material and produce open ended projections extending laterally from each side of the blank, and means guiding and substantially confining the blanks at the point of engagement of the die .members with the blanks, saidlmeans coop- 

